An Analysis of Old Norse Pronominal Address Shifting in Heimskringla
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Justin Glover
Social status is often reflected in the pronominal address forms of languages with two-choice systems, such as Old Norse. These languages utilize different pronouns to distinguish between formal/unfamiliar and informal/familiar addressees. In Old Norse, the pronouns þú and þér express this distinction. However, conversation partners sometimes break the understood rules governing formal/informal usage – sometimes there is a shift from the formal to the informal and vice versa. This leads one to wonder why the shift occurred, what it reflects about the course of the conversation, what effects it may have on the outcome of the conversation, and how the participants react to the switch. I argue that these shifts can be explained within an independently motivated sociolinguistic framework.
© Walter de Gruyter 2011
Articles in the same Issue
- Zum historischen Konzept in Hans Christian Andersens Bilderbuch ohne Bilder
- Babel, Pfingsten und Rock ’n’ Roll – Sprache und Mythos in Mikael Niemis Populärmusik från Vittula
- An Analysis of Old Norse Pronominal Address Shifting in Heimskringla
- Rezensionen
- Bibliografie der deutschsprachigen Skandinavistik 2008/2009
Articles in the same Issue
- Zum historischen Konzept in Hans Christian Andersens Bilderbuch ohne Bilder
- Babel, Pfingsten und Rock ’n’ Roll – Sprache und Mythos in Mikael Niemis Populärmusik från Vittula
- An Analysis of Old Norse Pronominal Address Shifting in Heimskringla
- Rezensionen
- Bibliografie der deutschsprachigen Skandinavistik 2008/2009
